KSUM to host April 26-27 Antidrug Hackathon
Trivandrum / April 10, 2023
Thiruvananthapuram, Apr. 10: Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is organising a 30-hour national-level Antidrug Hackathon in association with Central University of Kerala (CUK) and Kasaragod District Panchayath this month-end in a bid to provide technology solutions to report use of narcotics and create awareness about the social menace.
“Technology Solutions for Reporting Drug Abuse and Engaging Students Against Drug Usage” is the theme for the April 26-27 event at the CUK in Periya, Kasaragod. Startups, innovators, students, developers and technology enthusiasts can participate. Kerala State Excise Department is also a partner in this programme.
The last date for application at https://startupmission.in/antidrug-hackathon/ is April 16. The winner of the ‘Award for the Best Innovation’ will get Rs 50,000, earning a direct opportunity to pitch for Idea Grant worth Rs 3 lakh from KSUM. The winner will be eligible for a year’s free incubation at KSUM, while the pilot implementation of the solution will be facilitated at the district panchayath level.
KSUM seeks a technology solution to report consumption and dealing of drugs near campuses by keeping the anonymity of the reporting person. There should be some engaging contents or rewards or recognition, encouraging the user to adopt the solution.
It should communicate all relevant information including contact details and department details. The technology should facilitate sharing interesting contents on social media and rating or honouring by giving badge to those who are posting relevant contents at frequent intervals against drug usage. It must engage NGOs/institutions so that they can run campaigns and competitions against drug usage. The technology solution must act as a platform for identifying the behavioural changes after the consumption through emotion recognition.
The Hackathon features a problem statement as per the analysis of a survey the CUK conducted among 1,000 students, 500 teachers and as many parents in Kasaragod district. The study was undertaken in the wake of an alarming increase in drug consumption among students and the newer forms of narcotics reaching students. While drug mafias trap students at the school premises and abuse them, awareness campaigns and de-addiction programmes by the government, school authorities and NGOs are not reaching the target audience.
KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
